PHILIPPINES PLANS TO SUBMIT ITS HCOC ANNUAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 000643 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2019 TAGS: PREL MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES PLANS TO SUBMIT ITS HCOC ANNUAL DECLARATION REF: STATE 24054 Classified By: Political Counselor Tom Gibbons, Reasons 1.4 B and D ¶1. (C) Post discussed reftel points with Director Leah Ruiz of the Office of United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),regarding the submission of the Annual Declaration (AD) on space and ballistic missile policies. Post underscored that the AD is one of the primary transparency measures of the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC) and that the timely submission of ADs by subscriber nations is key to the HCOC remaining a useful missile nonproliferation tool. ¶2. (C) Director Ruiz said that DFA has prepared and conveyed the AD to the appropriate Philippine government officials for signature. She added that the Philippines is a strong proponent of nonproliferation measures, and she expects that the Philippine government will sign and submit the AD by the March 31 deadline. KENNEY